Rapunzel knelt down next to the discarded man-purse and reached inside. She pulled out a huge circle of metal that was almost the color of her golden hair. It had large, dazzling crystals on it and other different-colored stones on it. The question was-
How do you wear it? I asked. She answered my question by sliding it onto her arm. She cocked her head and looked at me for approval, even though we both knew I had no idea what the thing was.
Too big for your arm. I shook my head. It was true. I turned one of my eyes to watch the closet door. It didn't budge.
Her face fell. She took it off and held it in both hands. She peered with one eye through one of the larger crystals.
No. I shook my head again.
She turned to the mirror. She carefully placed the circle on her head. She lowered her hands in awe. It was a perfect fit...for her. I stared with my mouth open, but it didn't match her skin tone. I shook my head. What do you think about-?
"Rapunzel! Let down your hair!" Mrs. Red's voice rang through the tension of the circle discovery.
Rapunzel gasped. She had her second chance. She quickly took off the crown, placed it in the man-purse and quickly deposited in the big chamber pot. It wasn't full, but it was gross.
Ew. I don't feel sorry for that man. I rolled my eyes and followed Rapunzel up to my hammock.
"Coming, Mother!" She could barely hide her excitement. Her neck was quivering and I placed my claw on it in hopes of stopping it.
"I have a big surprise!" She called up from the rope of hair. Her basket, even from the top of the tower, smelled of vegetables, and I hate vegetables.
Rapunzel started pulling up the hair. "Uh, I do, too!" Her voice sang out, filled with giddiness.
Of course, Mrs. Red had to counter-act. "I bet my surprise is bigger!" Her voice had some disdain weaved into it.
"I seriouly doubt it." Rapunzel mumbled, looking at the closet with the man in it. She never contradicted her mother's words.
After a minute, Mrs. Red was sitting on the window-sill. "I brought back parsnips. I'm going to make hazelnut soup for dinner. Your favorite! Surprise!" She was now standing in the tower with her arms out like she expected a pat on the back.
Whoop. Dee. Doo. Who cares? I flicked my tail back and forth.
"Well, Mother, there's something I want to tell you-" Rapunzel started to talk, but Mrs. Red already was interrupting. That was so annoying!
"Oh, Rapunzel, you know how I hate leaving you after a fight." She feigned innocence. "Especially since I've done absolutely nothing wrong."
My jaw dropped open. I climbed up from my hammock to the crown of her head and seperated her hair, so I could see, but not without blending myself, first.
Rapunzel shivered a bit to my added weight to her head, but she composed herself. She flicked the last of her hair from the outside. "Well, Mother, I was thinking about what you said earlier..."
Mrs. Red froze for an instant, but tried to hide it by shooting off a comment of hers. I call them Red Comments. "I hope you're not still talking about the stars."
Well, no duh! What else? I clenched my claws in rage, but quickly let go when Rapunzel gave out a small gasp that was barely audible. I realized my claws encircled her hair-tightly. I gave up and carefully slid down her hair. I darted to the closet door where the man was staying and blended in with the front of it.
"Floating lights and yes, I'm leading up to that-" She reached out a hand to the chair propped against the door of the closet. Her hand reaching out a foot from where I was hidden. I inched away from her hand.
Red Comment alert. "Because I really thought we dropped the situation, sweetheart." She spat out the comment with a lot of annoyance.
"No, Mother! I'm just saying, you think I'm not strong enough to handle myself out there-" She spread out her hand even further, almost brushing my tail.
"Oh darling, I know you're not strong enough to handle yourself out there." She turned to face Rapunzel. Her look was a mixture of fear and distaste.
Rapunzel tried to continue. "But if you just-"
"Rapunzel, we're done talking about this." She pantomined zipping lips in the air. Her hand motions are also annoying.
Mrs. Red, you are done talking about this. I mimicked.
"Trust me!" Rapunzel pleaded.
"Rapunzel." She clenched her teeth. She looked severely annoyed.
"I know what I'm-" Rapunzel put her hand on the chair.
"Rapunzel!" Mrs. Red hopelessly tried to stop the situation.
"Oh, come on!" Rapunzel was pushing the chair away from the closet.
"Enough with the lights, Rapunzel! You are not leaving this tower. Ever!" She shouted-loudly. I jumped, fell off the door and landed on the floor with a little squeak.
Rapunzel jumped at the sudden outburst. Her hand slowly withdrew from the chair.
Haha. Rapunzel made you say lights. Despite the situation, I had to think about this comment.
She gazed sadly at the chair, then up at her recent painting of her and the lights. Her eyes got a small twinkle and I knew she was formulating a plan.
"Great. Now I'm the bad guy." She put her face in her hand. If I didn't know her, I would think she was actually sorry, but of course, I knew her.
"All I wanted to say, mother, is..." She moved in front of the chair, moving her massive abundance of hair around it. "I know what I want for my birthday now." She said weakly.
Mrs. Red sighed with annoyance. " And what is that?"
She ducked her head. Her look told me that she despised lying to her mother, but it was the only way. "New paints" She paused, composing herself. "The paint from the white shells you once bought me."
"Well that is a very long trip, Rapunzel! Almost three days time." She took her head out of her hands.
Rapunzel feigned defeat. "I just thought that it was a better idea than the-" She paused. I knew that with every fiber of her being, she wanted to say floating lights. "Stars."
Her mother sighed with trimuph in her tone. She got up to go over to Rapunzel. "Are you sure you'll be alright on your own?"
She will be, with me at her side! I sort of wished she knew that.
Rapunzel hugged her mother. "I'll be safe as long as I'm here."
Mrs. Red sighed. "Can you prepare the food while I get my traveling clothes?"
Rapunzel nodded and walked off to slice bread, prepare cheese and put dried meat in the basket. I moved up her hair and sat on her shoulder for a while, until she shook her shoulder, a small gesture that she wanted me to hide. Her mother emerged from her bedroom with her red walking dress on, the one that Rapunzel made for her.
Rapunzel handed the basket to Mrs. Red and handed her her cloak.
Mrs. Red placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll be back in three day's time. I love you every much." She caressed the top of her head.
"I love you more." Rapunzel hugged her mother. Her mother hugged back.
"I love you most." And with that, Mrs. Red kissed the top of her head and headed out the window. She waited while Rapunzel prepared her hair.
She slid down it to the green grass. Rapunzel waited patiently until her mother got to the mouth of the entrance, when she suddenly turned around and waved. Rapunzel waved back and a smile plastered on her face. It wasn't til Mrs. Red was completely gone that Rapunzel ran back inside.